Symphonies d'Automne — Mâcon International Opera Singing Competition

Thirty years serving the voice

Created in 1993 by the association Mâcon Symphonies, the Symphonies d'Automne festival has been celebrating vocal art in all its forms for over thirty years. What began as an opera singing competition has gradually been enriched by a true festival dedicated to the voice, making Mâcon an ephemeral capital of song every November. Under the artistic direction of David Hurpeau and the presidency of Jacqueline Falconnet, the festival now shines far beyond Burgundy.

A benchmark international competition

The International Opera Singing Competition is the beating heart of Symphonies d'Automne. Open to singers from all over the world, it takes place in three public rounds — quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals — allowing the public to follow the candidates' progress. The jury brings together personalities from the lyrical world each year: composers, conductors, opera directors from Besançon, Rennes, Lorraine, and elsewhere. The final, accompanied by the Mâcon Symphony Orchestra, is the highlight of the festival.

The 2025 edition saw 61 singers from around the world compete under the patronage of soprano Catherine Trottmann and the jury presidency of composer Régis Campo.

A multifaceted festival

Beyond the competition, Symphonies d'Automne offers a rich and varied program. The 2025 edition, themed around the Far North, offered a poetic immersion into Scandinavian musical traditions, featuring boreal polyphonies, children's songs, and soundscapes inspired by the fjords. Gounod's opera Faust, conducted by David Hurpeau, jazz and contemporary music concerts, conferences, master classes, and youth performances completed the program.

The festival takes over numerous venues in Mâcon: the Théâtre, Scène nationale de Mâcon for the final and major concerts, the Conservatoire Edgar Varèse, the Cave à Musique, Le Crescent, the Protestant temple, and the Pathé cinema for the opening film screening.

A springboard for tomorrow's voices

Symphonies d'Automne plays a major role as a springboard for young opera singers. Competition winners gain national and international visibility, and many former finalists now pursue careers on the greatest European opera stages. The festival also involves the Conservatoire Edgar Varèse and regional choirs in its programming, actively participating in the training and transmission of vocal art.